Wine

Sculptureum’s 11-acre vineyard overlooks the art venue and gardens, with sweeping views out towards
Little and Great Barrier Islands. Visitors can enjoy a tasting of our wines, purchase bottles to take home, or order them while dining at Rothko Restaurant.

The wines have been produced under the Oak Hill Vineyard label since 2008. We currently offer three wines: the Cézanne Syrah, the Garden Series Bordeaux Blend, and the Camille Rosé—each reflecting the character of our coastal Matakana terroir. 

Wine has long been a passion for Sculptureum founders Anthony and Sandra Grant. Sandra grew up near the vineyards of West Auckland and developed a love for local wines from a young age. The couple spent 10 years with a bach on Waiheke Island, where they regularly visited cellar doors and deepened their appreciation for New Zealand wine.

They saw Matakana’s potential as a premium wine-growing region. Landmark wines like The Antipodean and Providence inspired them further, and in 2005 they purchased the land that is now home to Oak Hill Vineyard. At that time, the site included one acre each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris.

In the early years, they experimented with a variety of styles—Merlot, Merlot Rosé, oaked and unoaked Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. While the unoaked Pinot Gris was flavourful, it expressed more like a Chardonnay, and the Cabernet Sauvignon proved difficult to ripen in the humid coastal climate.

To improve growing conditions, the vineyard was regraded in 2010, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was replaced with Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, and Carménère. The Pinot Gris was also removed and replaced with a second acre of Chardonnay clone 15, leaving just one original acre of Chardonnay today. Their efforts soon paid off. The 2013 Bordeaux Blend and Syrah both earned medals at the International Wine Challenge, and the wines continue to express the unique identity of the site.

 At Oak Hill, our focus is on making wine that is true to the land. The Syrah has a dusky violet perfume and a structure reminiscent of Bordeaux. The Garden Series Blend—a mix of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Carménère—is lightly tannic with a soft middle palate and notes of cigar box and blackberries. The Camille Rosé offers a bright, fresh expression ideal for warmer days.

Our wines pair beautifully with food, and we highly recommend ordering a glass or two when you dine at Rothko.

Wine flights available for purchase through the ticketing team in Miro room.